When’s the first day of spring in Boise? What to know as we switch to new season
Winter is finally coming to a close in Boise, and the weather is already getting warmer.
The vernal equinox marks the official first day of spring across the Northern Hemisphere, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Here’s what to know about the shift in seasons:
When is the first day of spring in 2026?
In 2026, the spring equinox falls on Friday, March 20, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
This year, Boise moves into spring at 8:46 a.m. on Friday, according to Time and Date, a global calendar and clock website.
The equinox is among the astronomical events that mark the switch of the seasons in both hemispheres of the Earth.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox marks the return of spring with warmer temperatures and longer days, according to NASA.
The Southern Hemisphere’s schedule is opposite of north of the equator. There, the March equinox signals a chilly descent into autumn.
What is the vernal equinox?
During the March equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive “roughly equal amounts of sunlight,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac said.
The Latin word “equinox” directly translates to “equal night,” the almanac said, referencing the similar lengths of daylight and nighttime experienced when the Earth’s tilt levels out.
Earth rotates around its axis at a different angle than the one it follows to move around the sun, according to NASA.
Different regions of Earth receive different quantities of sunlight due to the tilt, “which causes the seasons,” the space agency said.
“An equinox occurs at the moment when the Earth’s axis doesn’t tilt toward or away from the sun,” the History Channel said on its website. “Someone standing on the equator on an equinox can observe the sun passing directly overhead.”
Are the days getting longer in Idaho?
The day of the spring equinox also marks a halfway point on the astronomical calendar.
The shortest day of the year is the winter solstice.
On Dec. 21, daylight only lasted for eight hours and 56 minutes in Boise, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting. Since then, we’ve added three hours of sunlight.
The City of Trees will add more sunshine as we approach the longest day of the astronomical year, the summer solstice.
From March through June, Idaho and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere will get add another three hours of daytime.
On Friday, Boise will see about 12 hours and 9 minutes of daylight before the sun sets.
During the summer solstice on June 21, we will get about 15 hours and 26 minutes of daytime.
